Ranieri relies on Vardy, rueful Koeman

After their flat performance throughout the first half and conceding goals to Southampton‘s Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk, Leicester’s Vardy scored twice to secure what had appeared an unlikely point for his team.

Producing the finest form of his career, Vardy, who so far this season has scored nine Premier League goals and who has already spoken of the need to continue his prolific run if he is to make the England squad for Euro 2016, headed Leicester’s first goal before missing an exceptional 81st-minute, close-range chance to equalise.

However, he swiftly recovered from his disappointment and responded a minute into stoppage time by shooting powerfully into the top corner beyond Kelvin Davis to rescue a point.

“Jamie Vardy is important for us,” Ranieri said. “If I was a player I’d think ‘Oh, Jamie can score, Jamie can score’ and this is important.

“He’s got good stamina, and it’s good to think during the match ‘Jamie can score’.

“Jamie in the Championship scored 16 goals, last season he (experienced) the Premier League, a lot of confidence he took with the (England) national team, and now maybe he’s more sure, more confident.

“He’s fantastic. He ran a lot, pressed a lot, but also at the right moment was very, very clear to choose the best solution.

“I think only of Leicester. If Roy (Hodgson) wants him (for England at Euro 2016), it’s good for him, good for Jamie, good for Leicester, good for everybody.

“(We have a) good spirit, fantastic. To go down 2-0 is not easy, to recover. I have a very fantastic group. They believed everything could be possible.

“We were desperate (in the second half). I told the players, ‘If we lose 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, it’s the same, we’re still losing’.